savetheearth | Second feather [Video-phone / Monday afternoon]

[Out and about in the city, Rakka was walking down the streets, wrapped in winter clothes and trying to avoid any contact with anyone. The introduction to the numbers club had made her even more apprehensive of others than before, if that was even possible. All of the information that traveled through her mind sent shivers down her spine. She was in a battle now, whether she wanted to be or not. Stopping in front of a store, she stared at the window for a moment, trying to figure out what she was supposed to do.]

[The network opens and the screen focuses on a store window, a small nativity scene set up in the window. A tiny manger, with a tiny baby, surrounded by tiny shepards, and a tiny flock of angels. The screen then moves, obscured by a finger, until it finally settles on Rakka's face. She doesn't seem to be sleeping well, which is likely a common side-effect of discovering that you're a reincarnate of someone else.]

Okay, so Christmas is coming soon. I'm still pretty new to this whole... numbers thing and all, so I have to know.

What's it like during the winter here? Is there going to be some kind of Christmas invasion I'll have to look out for now? Some information a few days in advance would be nice.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[she stared down at the pavement, kicking a random piece of gravel in frustration.]

Why should I tell you?

[She tries to sound angry, but it comes out as saddened and quiet.]

[Something about that tone is painfully sincere, to the point where it penetrates even L's frosty exterior a little bit.

Finally, he doggedly says]

I aimed for the pavement, and I'm still being punished for it.

Edited 2013-12-22 06:03 (UTC)

[Rakka stops, momentarily frozen. The cold street around seemingly stopping for a few seconds as well. Her head slowly tilted up to look at him, almost afraid to. When she finally meets his gaze it's.... startling how similar it is to hers.]

....I.... I...

[What does she say to that?]

Edited 2013-12-22 06:11 (UTC)

[Yeah, it's pretty hard to come back to. And that's why L tends to avoid mentioning it.

She seems plenty disturbed already, so he opts not to flash his scars. Even after four years, they are still dark and deep.]

So? What made you do it? Something serious, I would hope.

....[She looks almost afraid of saying.]

....I'm alone back home. No friends, and my parents don't care about me. I wanted them to notice me for once...

[she was in fact aiming for the pool... after she jumped.]

[He has no outward reaction to her reasons; if he thinks them selfish or juvenile, he gives no indication.]

Jumping... actually jumping, it's rough. Did you change your mind on the way down? I've heard that happens a lot, with that method.

[It might sound a little juvenile, but there's more to it of course.]

I... guess I did. Never really though about it much before I did it. ...I guess that's why people do it. They don't really think about it.

That's not entirely true. I thought about it a lot before I did it. I planned it. Down to my last bill. The only thing I didn't plan for was what happened if I failed, which I did. Clearly.

[Clearly.]

Yeah, I uh.... s-see that.

[She doesn't know what to say to that. What do you say to that?]

Talking to you, I don't get the feeling that you planned to succeed. I haven't decided if that makes the situation better, or worse. On one hand, it means that you weren't planning to actually die... but on the other hand, it means that you weren't sincere.

Do you regret it?

[She frowned.]

I... guess I regret it. I mean, why wouldn't I? Doing something like that, it's....

But, at the same time... I don't know. Maybe I wanted it to succeed.

[She really doesn't know for sure.]

Were you hurt? You don't look like you damaged anything permanently. That's lucky.

No, just a broken arm and a concussion from it. I was pretty lucky actually, all things considered.

Even got my parents to actually come see me.

Were they angry at you?

[Still too intense, but genuinely curious, even if there just might be an undertone of judgment in all of this since she basically admitted to doing it for her parents' attention.]

[She sighs dejectedly.]

Of course they were angry. When they weren't ignoring me, or arguing with each other, that's what they usually did.

They thought I was crazy for... you know, so they sent me here for a "change of scenery".

There are worse places they could have sent you. Most of the time psychiatric attention is in order. At least evaluation, following a "cry for help."

I suppose that's true. Being stuck in a city with corrupt police and exploding snakes probably isn't the worst thing that can happen in America.

[She shrugged.] They didn't bother with the evaluation. Said that I would be fine if I just got a new start and met some different people.

[They.... are not the best parents, is what she's getting at here.]

But you won't. You're likely to do something even more extreme the next time you want to get their attention.

...Maybe.

Maybe if I'm here, things will get better. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

[Does she even care anymore? It's hard to tell.]

That's what they seem to think, at any rate.

In your place I'd stop caring what they think.

Right. Yeah.

[She goes silent for a minute.]

Uh, I'm... Rakka I guess.

[He stares blankly at her. Well, more blankly, anyway.]

You guess? What does that even mean?

Well, I'm not sure if I should really introduce myself, or if "Rakka" is even my real name considering what's happening to us.

[She shrugged sheepishly.]

It's my name for now at least.

Fair enough.

I'm Lazarus. But don't call me that, or we'll not get along. It's been L for awhile.

Second feather [Video-phone / Monday afternoon]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]